“Buñuel en El Laberinto de las Tortugas”
The entries featured in Película, the annual Manila Spanish Film Festival that has been wowing Filipino cineastes since 2002, have always been satisfying sources of entertainment.
Curated by Instituto Cervantes de Manila and the Spanish Embassy, the festival’s binge-worthy 17-title lineup this year is being screened at Greenbelt 3 beginning today until Oct. 13. Then, they will move over to the UP Film Institute on Oct. 23 and 24.
We’re drawn to these films not only because of the relevance of their themes, but also due to their characters’ “relatable” temperament—it’s easy to imagine them as Filipino characters in emotionally charged films and telenovelas!
But there’s always more to Spanish-language flicks than high camp and mush.
One of the films we’re urging film buffs to make a beeline for is Salvador Simo’s “Buñuel en El Laberinto de las Tortugas” (Buñuel in the Labyrinth of the Turtles), which has been preselected by the Spanish Academy for the upcoming Oscars—with good reason.
Antonio dela Torre in “El Reino”
We’ve not been fond of animation for some time now, but the genre’s idiosyncratic style is a snug fit for the 1933-set story fueling Buñuel’s third film, “Las Hurdes,” and how his surrealistic portrait of the remote region’s local peasants came about.
While the production muses on the purpose and indispensability of art to effect change, it follows the difficult-to-work-with Buñuel (voiced by Jorge Uson), his producer Ramon Acin (Fernando Ramos) and their colleagues, Pierre Unik (Luis Enrique de Tomas) and Eli Lotar (Cyril Corral) as they document the lives of impoverished people in the autonomous Spanish community of Extremadura.
The characters are compellingly drawn and their situations thoughtfully realized that it didn’t take long for us to forget that we were watching an animated film, made more fascinating by provocative live-action footage of Hurdans!
It also shows the film master’s uncompromising “standards.” In it, Buñuel appallingly slaughters animals to deliver his message to viewers: He beheads a rooster, drives a goat to jump off a cliff, and spreads honey all over an ailing donkey so he could film it being stung by bees!
Needless to say, we were shocked by such acts of cruelty to animals.
“Buñuel en El Laberinto de las Tortugas” will be Película’s opening film tonight.
Najwa Nimri in “Quines Cantara”
Another production that deserves moviegoers’ avid patronage is Rodrigo Sorogoyen’s crackling political thriller, “El Reino” (The Realm/The Candidate).
At the heart of this dazzling drama about crime and punishment is charismatic but corrupt politician Manuel Lopez-Vidal (Antonio dela Torre), whose successful life comes crumbling down when he tries to cover up for an associate’s misdeed and unwittingly becomes accused of being the brains behind a nefarious bribery and embezzlement scheme.
Unwilling to take the blame for the entire plot, Manuel then attempts to come clean about his sins of omission and commission. As a consequence, he opens a rotten can of worms that could lead to the downfall of the entire political party.
The sleek thriller will drive viewers to the edge of their seat, especially when it reaches the heart-stopping denouement that sees Manuel facing off against hard-hitting broadcast journalist Amaia Marin (Barbara Lennie).
Take note, film buffs: In itself, this confrontation scene between Antonio and Barbara is worth the price of admission.
Other notable films: Carlos Vermut’s “Quien Te Cantara” (Who Will Sing to You?) is about amnesiac ’90s singer Lila Cassen (Najwa Nimri) and her No. 1 fan, former singer Violeta (Eva Llorach).
Israel Gomez Romero, Isaki Lacuesta and Francisco Gomez Romero of “Entre Dos Aguas”
The latter helps bring Lila up to speed about her songs and the performing style she has no memory of. But Violeta has her work cut out for her, because Lila is scheduled to perform in 10 upcoming shows for a prescheduled comeback tour—and time is running out.
In Isaki Lacuesta’s “Entre Dos Aguas” (Between Two Waters), Isra (Israel Gomez Romero) and Cheíto (Francisco Jose Gomez Romero) are brothers who have gone their separate ways.
When Isra comes out of prison, and Cheíto’s mission in the navy comes to an end, they return to the isle of San Fernando, their hometown.
Their reunion brings back memories of their father’s violent death, and reminds them of the unbreakable bond that ties them forever.
Other films in the fest: Juan Jose Campanella’s “The Weasel’s Tale,” Iciar Bollain’s “Yuli,” Isabel Coixet’s “Elisa and Marcela,” Dani dela Orden’s “Litus” and “The Best Summer of My Life,” Gaston Duprat’s “My Masterpiece,” Lino Escalera’s “Can’t Say Goodbye,” Carlos Marques-Marcet’s “The Days to Come,” Luis Ortega’s “El Angel,” Rafael Martinez Moreno’s “The Missed Round,” Elena Martin’s “Julia Ist,” Leon Siminiani’s “Notes for a Heist Film,” Neus Ballus’ “Staff Only,” Caye Casas and Albert Pintó’s “Killing God” and Koldo Serra’s “70 Big Ones.”